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Simple Ways Family Caregivers Can Take Time for Themselves (and Not Feel Guilty!)

From our Care Blog

As a family caregiver, you are focused on the care of others. And often the one person you forget to take care of is yourself. We all know how important it is for you to stay healthy, fit and rested in order to be at your best. Caring for another is a rewarding personal experience, especially if it’s one of your own family members. But at the same time, factors like exhaustion, worry, inadequate resources, and continuous care demands can be enormously stressful. It is important that family caregiver takes time for themselves. Here are a few simple ways to...

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Join Us in The Fight Against Alzheimer’s

From our Care Blog

On The Longest Day, the strength of our light will outshine the darkness of Alzheimer’s. The longest day in our calendar year is determined by the day with the most daylight – the summer solstice. In 2019 this day is June 21. On this day, and through August, FirstLight® Home Care locations across the United States will join thousands of participants around the world to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s by hosting community fundraising activities and awareness events in support of The Longest Day®. Alzheimer’s disease is a global epidemic. Progressive and eventually debilitating, Alzheimer’s is devasting to everyone affected...

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Recovery After a Stroke: Tips for the Family Caregiver

From our Care Blog

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. If you are caring for a family member who has had a stroke, and you are helping them recover in their home, we know firsthand the high levels of emotional and physical stress you both may experience without proper in-home care services. Caregivers play a vital role in the post-stroke recovery process. The more aware caregivers are of available resources, programs, services, and self-care tips - for the stroke survivor and themselves - the more likely they will affect positive outcomes and keep stress at a minimum. FirstLight Home Care has put together the...

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Our Best Mother’s Day Advice

From our Care Blog

“A mother is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend.” —Unknown Mother’s Day is a holiday that it is observed in many different forms throughout the world. According to History.com, the American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. In honor of the holiday, we asked our FirstLight family to share their best Mother’s Day advice. We’ve included a sampling here, along with a sprinkling of inspirational quotes. Enjoy! And please comment here on this post or on our Facebook page if you’d like to share...

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5 Reasons to Thank a Nurse. National Nurses Week is May 6-12.

From our Care Blog

Nursing is a noble profession that is not for the faint of heart. Nurses face risks and challenges in their job each day, and their courage and patients should be celebrated. In 1993, the American Nurses Association declared May 6-12 as the national week to honor and elevate the nursing profession. National Nurses Week is a time for everyone to recognize the positive impact and vast contributions millions of nurses make to our communities. Each year, the celebration ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday. At FirstLight Home Care, we have dozens of reasons to thank a nurse for their...

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8 Ways to Deal with Caregiver Stress

From our Care Blog

It can be overwhelming to take care of a loved one who is aging or one living with cognitive problems or a disability. Too much stress can be harmful to you and to the one in your care. It’s important to recognize the signs of caregiver stress and to put actions in place to manage and reduce your stress and anxiety levels. Signs of caregiver stress As a caregiver, you are “on call” almost all the time. This ongoing demand can make you become so focused on the loved one in your care, that you forget about yourself. You put...

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What Makes a Healthy Brain?

From our Care Blog

The human brain is a powerful organ. It controls how we remember, learn, play and concentrate. Practicing brain-strengthening habits every day keeps your mind sharp and can help prevent or delay cognition problems such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Here are six tips that could help you maintain a healthier brain and improve brain function. Exercise daily. Spend at least 30 minutes most days doing some type of activity that gets your heart pumping. Focus on a combination of cardio exercises, strength training, flexibility, and balance. Make sure you are doing activities you enjoy so that you...

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Personal or Companion Care: Which is Better?

From our Care Blog

“Sometimes asking for help is the most meaningful example of self-reliance.”— Unknown If you are caring for a loved one, whether it’s an aging parent who needs help around the home or a family member with a disability, there may come a time when you - as the family caregiver - need an extra helping hand with personal and companion care. Enlisting the help of non-medical home care and hiring a caregiver to deliver personal and companion care services can be the next step in providing respite and peace of mind for you. But home care can include such a...

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What Are the Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout?

From our Care Blog

April is National Stress Awareness Month. Most people are under some level stress due to everyday life situations, and our family caregiver is not immune. In fact, caregiver burnout is more common than most families think. WebMD defines caregiver burnout as a “state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude -- from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned”. Caregivers often burn the candle at both ends. They are so busy caring for their aging loved one and their own family members that they tend to neglect themselves. The demands on a...

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Why Family Caregivers Should Consider Joining a Support Group

From our Care Blog

Caring for a family loved one can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be overwhelming. The family caregiver is only human, and they need both emotional and practical support to maintain a healthy self. Joining a local support group is one solution to help the family caregiver feel less isolated, and it provides the opportunity to be around people who know exactly what they’re going through. The benefits of joining a support group. Research has shown that participating in caregiver support groups has many benefits and can significantly improve the quality of life for the caregiver and their...

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